“Little Arabia”- A Food Mecca in California
By: Blanche Shaheen/ Arab America Contributing Writer
Sometimes, staycations can be more memorable than expensive and exotic vacations to faraway places. If you have a wanderlust for ethnic experiences, many cities and even small towns have neighborhoods resplendent with the art, food, and music of other countries without having to get on a cumbersome and overpriced flight. If you are an Arab American in diaspora missing the taste of home, or simply someone that longs to taste authentic middle eastern food, then the “Little Arabia” district is a must visit on the west coast.
Just minutes away from Disneyland, Little Arabia occupies a 2.5 mile corridor called Brookhurst. The street is lined with dozens of Arab family-run bakeries, falafel shops, restaurants, shisha cafes, halal butcher shops, and ethnic supermarkets. While these businesses have been established for decades, the city of Anaheim never gave the area an official designation. After a community movement petitioned the Anaheim city council to acknowledge this area with the Little Arabia title, council members rejected it, and avoided the discussion altogether. However, after the community took a first ever poll done on the question of official Little Arabia designation, 58% overwhelmingly voted yes. The survey’s findings were very encouraging to the cause, further cementing this enclave as a worthy destination.
This could not have happened at a better time, as small businesses in Anaheim have severely felt the impact of the government-ordered shutdowns. This designation is not only helpful for economic recovery, revitalization, and cultural diversity, but it will put the neighborhood on the tourist map. Whether or not the area gets an official designation, the gems in this area are a must visit for any foodie or traveler to the area.
To see get a mini food tour of Little Arabia, click on the video below:
Below is a list of must visit places in Little Arabia:
Al Amir Bakery: The smell of za’atar is in the air, as the Lebanese and Palestinian bakers churn out fresh flatbreads in their wood fire oven. Tear off a piece of fresh and fluffy flatbread and spread with any of their tantalizing dips like ful mudamas (fava dip), hummus, or labneh cheese drizzled with fruity Lebanese olive oil. Flatbreads are topped with either cheese and egg, feta cheese, ground beef and tomato, or fresh za’atar.
518 S Brookhurst St Ste 3, Anaheim, CA 92804-2447
Knafeh Cafe– The renowned dessert of knafeh originated in the town of Nablus, Palestine, and it just so happens the baker at this cafe is from that very town. For those uninitiated, knafeh is a dessert made with buttery filo dough on top of melted sweet cheese, drizzled with sweet syrup and chopped pistachios. This cafe not only churns out some of the best knafeh in California, but they also serve fresh baklava, hareeseh, or semolina honey cake, and ma’moul, or shortbread cookies filled with sumptuous dates.
866 S Brookhurst St, Anaheim, CA 92804-4303
The House of Mandi is one of the newest eateries in town, offering the strip’s first Yemeni restaurant. A must try is Hadhramaut, a Yemeni traditional dish crowned with fall off the bone roasted lamb. The restaurant also offers fresh fattoush salad, and signature vegetable stews.
518 S Brookhurst St, Unit 1, Anaheim, CA 92804
Aleppo’s Kitchen Cafe provides a quick stop storefront for kibbeh prepared at least 6 different ways both baked and fried. They also offer Syrian Muhammara, or red pepper and walnut dip, as well as a variety of kofta, or chargrilled minced meat
513 1/2 S Brookhurst St Anaheim, CA 92804
Zait and Zaatar is renowned for their sumptuous shawarma plates and wraps as well as felafel for that vegan in your life
510 N Brookhurst St Ste 106, Anaheim,
Sababa Falafel is where falafel purists go to order the most authentic falafel outside the middle east. Order a falafel plate or a falafel bowl, and make sure you get the garlicky toum sauce to drizzle on top
11011 Brookhurst St, Garden Grove, CA 92840
Blanche Shaheen is the author of the cookbook called “Feast In the Middle East, a Journey of Family and Cuisine” which you can order here: https://secure.mybookorders.com/mbo_index.php?isbn=9781545675113 She is also a journalist, and host of the popular cooking show called Feast in the Middle East. She specializes in Arab cuisine of the Levant and beyond. You can check out her cooking video tutorials at https://www.youtube.com/user/blanchetv Her recipes can also be found at https://feastinthemiddleeast.wordpress.com/
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